In this 2019 file photo JN General Insurance team members collecting garbage and recyclable plastics at the Go Kart Track, Palisadoes Peninsula, on International Coastal Cleanup Day, September 21. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)
Talking rubbish
OPPOSITION members of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) of Parliament have charged that a comprehensive plan to improve solid waste management across Jamaica needs to be implemented immediately after more than 20 years of discussions.
Speaking at Wednesday’s meeting of the PAAC at Gordon House, a number of Opposition members contended that the issue of the separation of plastic waste, in particular, has been talked about at length, and various enterprise teams have been put in place to deal with waste management issues but the country has not moved apace to effectively deal with the issue over the years.
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However, head of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) Audley Gordon told the committee that the entity is constrained by a limited budget of only $2.2 billion for solid waste management, and the absence of critical regulations to support the NSWMA Act which was promulgated in 2001.
Gordon proposed a ‘proper fix’ budget of $23 billion that, he argued, could guarantee the country far superior solid waste management.
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GORDON…as a public servant I have to play the hand that I draw
He asked for the support of committee members in this push for more funding to expand or implement the various projects of the NSWMA geared towards improved solid waste management.
Given the estimated annual generation of plastics of about 182 million tonnes, Gordon said high on his agenda is the separation of waste, lamenting that Jamaica is way behind with proper disposal of plastics.
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The NSWMA head said his vision is to have separate receptacles for plastic waste placed at every gate across Jamaica.
“Plastic remains a clear and present danger to the environment and is not just Jamaica — all over the world. We are pretty much playing catch up. We should have been further along and this is a collective criticism for us as a society. We should by now be separating garbage at source but there are a lot of impediments,” said Gordon.
But Opposition member Lisa Hanna argued that Gordon, as the person charged with the responsibility of leading garbage collection in the country, should be asking the Government to give the entity the money so that the project can be put it in place.
“If the enterprise team has taken over two decades to get this done, Mr Gordon, I guarantee you that even when my son gives me grandchildren, whenever that is, you still won’t get it done. And so all I’m saying to you… is when you get to the infrastructure committee on Monday, tell them I said that you need more money in your budget, tell them the committee [PAAC] said you need more money because what you need are those receptacles. Stop waiting on the enterprise team,” said Hanna.
While noting that he hears Hanna’s frustration and shares it, Gordon said, “as a public servant I have to play the hand that I draw. So, I have to use what I have. I have to use what I have in the best way I can”.
“I have started with my team to separate plastics. We are doing an excellent job in those communities. We are expanding that across Jamaica with our additional trucks that we will be getting. I believe that as we work together and as we take the incremental gains and we keep going in that good direction, until that time when we have all the funds that we need, until that time that we have all the different resources, then we will have to keep doing something,” said the NSWMA head.
He told the PAAC that the plastic separation initiative has moved from 16 to 40 communities and that there are plans to get 10 additional specialised trucks, called tipper trucks, to collect plastic waste. He noted that there are only five now serving the island.
“We are expanding separation as we get more trucks in another four to five months, and we are hoping with the pending regulations, which are 22 years outstanding, we will be able to strengthen what we do,” added Gordon.
But that did not satisfy Hanna who said the NSWMA head has to get out of the narrative that he has to play the hand that he is dealt.
“No, you don’t. You need to play the hand that the Jamaican people want, and what the Jamaican people want is for their garbage [to be disposed of properly],” said Hanna.
She contended that there is a gap in the planning of overall garbage reduction and suggested that Gordon go back to the table in finding solutions to better manage waste, especially plastics.
“You don’t need the enterprise team to do this, which is what we’re saying. This is a policy directive. This is where people have to sit down now and say look… it’s not working. Let us put this in place, and we’re going to need the budget to do the receptacles and all your other things for the campaign that you need.
“But obviously something isn’t working…This yah rice yah nah swell bredda because something not working. And it’s not working because your data says it’s not working,” said Hanna who lamented that the ban on single-use plastic, which took effect on January 1, 2019, has not put much of a dent on reducing the country’s plastic waste.
Other Opposition members, Fitz Jackson and committee Chairman Mikael Phillips also agreed that the time for discussions is over and that the plan to improve the country’s garbage collection now needs to be actioned.
